The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-13

I"For consider him that hath endured sucn
gainsaying of sinners against himself, that We
wax not weary, fainting in your souls" Re
uiscd Version. Hebrews xii. 81
The writer of these words foresaw
the possibility of the Hebrew Christ
ians becoming weary and discouraged.
1t was not an unusual thing that he
feared. Men in the excitement of a
new cause are easily enthused and hold
out in their devotion for little while.
But when disputations arise, and when
for the cause there must be sacrifice
of self or possessions, and when ostra-
cism may be an added result to those
already referred to; then it is that
men become discouraged and let their
enthusiasm run to waste and be lost
forever.
What this writer to these Hebrew
Christians foresaw is what most Of us
have observed in the daily dealings
with men. What he could fear in regard
to Christianity, is what any wise states
man can fear in regard to public ques-
lions, or what any disputant of theo-
logical intricacies may fear in respect to
matters of Importance to the church.
In this regard, the writer of our text
was only wise prophet; and his mis-
sion was not so much that Of direct
revelation of God, as it was of a knowl-
edge of human life. 1t is often the
case, that by careful consideration, we
can, with no small degree of accuracy,
foretell or forecast the results of certain
causes, and predict the actions of men.
Combining our thought to the subject
of this writer, we should consider Christ
ianity aud it's welfare. There are men
and women who are striving to advance
its cause by their devotion to the
church. There are those who are not
offended because everything does not
go to suit them but even these some
times get discouraged. Some, yes,
many there are, who are striving to
possess more spirituality relig-
ious life; those trying for "closer
walk with God"-whose daily and even
hourly aspiration is to be 'sNearer, my
God, to Thee" but even these get dis
heartened when the world and all there
is in and aboutit, seems to work against
their endeavors. Where are those who
are not like Paul, 'doing those things
they feel they ought not, and leaving
undone those that they ought to do ?"
trying to free the mind of evil thoughts,
and yet unable2 All this is discour-
aging to US. We ofttimes lose heart in
our endeavors; our enthusiasm lags, be-
cause of the diseouragements of the
Christian life.
But must we give up ? Is there not
some way that these discouragements
can be met, and the religious life con-
tinue in its increase ? This is the way,
it seems to me, that this subject should
present itself. We must follow our
Master, that is, not to shrink from any
thing, for us or against US, but rather
learn through him how to be victor
over all things.
I. And we shall be strengthened to
this end by firm convictions of religious
truth. 1t is necessary that we have a
good foundation for our structure. Cas-
ties of air are of little consequence.
We want something that will stand
when the stormy winds blow and beat
upon it. 1t is the foolish man who
builds his house upon the shifting sands,
only to find out insecurity while the
wise man builds upon the solid and
permanent rock, and learns of safety
and security.
He who tunnels the mountains, and
the channels of the sea, must be firmly
convinced that the way he adopted for
doing that work is the best way posi-
BILE. He must believe that his way is
as good or a little better than the plan
of any other person. 1t may be poor
plan for the specified work, it may be
very faulty-there may be plans, which,
in the Judgment of other persons are
superior to the one by which this in
dividual would do his work of excava-
tion. And yet that is a poor engineer
who doubts his own reckoning in meas
urements, and his own method of pro-
cedure. He must have faith in him
self and faith in the results of his own
investigation.
If he knows that other methods Of
working than his own exist, he should
look them over carefully. But if in the
end he shall adopt his own plan, it must
be with the firm conviction that his is
the best, and without any doubt in the
efficacy of what he has adopted, he
should perform the task. Beginning as
it were on the eastern side of the Rocky
mountains, he should never have dis
trust for the success of the undertake
ing, until, standing beneath the mass
of rock, he should see falling through
the gorge he has made, the rays of the
setting sun in the western sky. Or if
it be the English channel under which
he would travel, no doubt of the plan
should be in his mind until the work
should be completed.
He who would heal the diseased
membranes and organs, must get a true